Ultraviolet lamp



Aug. 9, 1966 l, NAXQN ULTRAVIOLET LAMP Filed June 17', 1964 .1 a w w M w w 5 w i 1 0 L a 4 f? 5 V J J .x V 3 5 4 6 m Fm 1 6 w A?! HI I V United States Patent 3,265,882 ULTRAVIOLET LAMP Irving Naxou, Chicago, Ill, assignor to NZIXOEI Utilities Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Filed June 17, 1964, Ser. No. 375,774 4 Claims. (Cl. 240-11. 4)

This invention relates to an ultraviolet lamp assembly and, more particularly, to a portable ultraviolet lamp assembly including an improved ultraviolet lamp having pin connections on the ends therof for quickly and detachably connecting the ultraviolet lamp to bracket means in the casing of the assembly.

In one way my present invention may be considered an improvement over the ultraviolet lamp described in my United States Patent No. 2,951,967, as will be evident hereinafter.

One object of the present invention is to provide a portable ultraviolet lamp assembly of the type used for therapeutic purposes with an improved ultraviolet lamp having pin means in the ends thereof for detaohably engaging the lamp with electrical contact support members in the casing for the lamp assembly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved portable ultraviolet lamp assembly having ultraviolet lamp means supported in .a twossection casing structure which includes a combined latch and tilt stand for selectively securing the two sections together in closed position or for maintaining the two sections in predetermined relationship with respect to one another in the open position in use.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be readily perceived from the following description. The invention will be particularly pointed out in clear, concise, and exact terms in conjunction with the, accompanying drawing in which like numerals refer to like elements and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portable ultraviolet lamp assembly embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ultra-violet lamp assembly taken generally along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the ultraviolet lamp. assembly showing the casing thereof in open position ready for use;

FIGURE 4 is a view looking down on the top section of the casing and the ultraviolet lamp supported therein;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the top section of the casing taken generally along the line 55 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic wiring circuit for the ultraviolet lamp assembly.

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is illustrated a portable ultraviolet lamp assembly 10 embodying the present invention. The assembly comprises a housing or casing including an upper section 12 and a lower section 14 hinged together along one side thereof by suitable hinge means 18 and operatively held in the closed position by a combined tilt-and-latch member 16.

The combined latch-and-tilt stand 16 comprises a generally U-shaped, rod-like member which is pivoted at each side of the upper casing sedtion 12 as indicated at 20 and 22. The rod-like member which defines the combined latchaa-nd-tilt stand includes a depending arm portion 23 on one side, which is adapted to cooperate with and engage a stop 24 suitably aflixed to the lower casing section 14 for operatively securing the upper and lower sections 12 and 14 in closed position. When the combined latch-and-tilt stand 16 is positioned for use, as seen in FIGURE 3, the upper section will be supported on a flat surface, for example, a table top, at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower section for properly orienting the ultraviolet lamp with respect to the user.

The interior of the casing between the members 12 and 14 defines essentially a pair of compartments 26 and 28. These compartments extend substantially coextensive with the length of the casing sections 12 and 14.

Disposed within the compartment 26 is an ultraviolet lamp 30" which is adapted to be supported at each end in bracket means 32 and 34, respectively. The bracket means 32 and 34, comprising lamp holders, are carried on a reflector 36 which is spaced from and operatively connected to the upper casing section 12 by fastening means 3 3.

The bracket means 32 and 34 include suitable electric contacts which are conected into an electric circuit with the ultraviolet lamp 30 by means including an electric cord 37. The compartment 28 defined between an inner wall 38 affixed to the lower casing portion 14- and the lower casing portion 14 itself is adapted to house the electric cord 37 when the ultraviolet lamp assembly is inoperative. In use, the cord 37 may be removed from compartment 28 and plugged into a suitable source of electric current. If desired, compartment 2-8 may be accessible from either end and may be subdivided to provide storage for protective goggles as well as cord 37.

Referring to FIGURE 4, there is shown the ultraviolet lamp assembly including an ultraviolet lamp 30 which is preferably a mercury vapor tube of generally tubular elongated design. In accordance with the present invention, the ultraviolet lamp 30 is provided at each end with a pair of pin connections 40 and 41 which are adapted to readily detachably engage the electrical contacts 42 and 43 in the support brackets 32 and 34, respectively. The electrical contacts each comprise a pair of spring fingers which are adapted to engage pin connections 40 and 41, such spring fingers being fabricated from an electrically conductive material.

The ultraviolet lamp includes a mercury vapor tube 44 encased in the medial portion .of a metallic jacket 45 which is wrapped snugly around the tube in firm thermal and mechanical engagement therewith.- The metallic jacket 46 terminates with opposed angle flanges 47 which are secured together by suitable fastening means 48.

The jacket 46 encas'es a pair of insulation spools 50 disposed adjacent each end of the tube 44. Wound upon each of the spools 50 are heating coils 51. Preferably, the spools are made from an insulating material such as a ceramic.

Extending from each end of the vapor tube 44 are a pair of conductors 52 and 54. The conductor 54 extends through the bore 55 in spool 50 and is athxed to pin 40. The conductor 52 is aflixed to an end of wire 51 which is wound or coiled upon spool 50. The other end of wire 51 is afiixed to pin 41.

It should be noted that the pin connectors 40 and 41 are supported directly from the ceramic spools 50 which spools are cup-shaped with the closed ends 57 thereof forming a solid and relatively thick wall having holes into which the pins are securely fastened. Inasmuch as the outer end of the ballast winding on each of the spools is connected to one of the connector pins on each spool, the support of the latter by the spool itself provides a highly desirable short and convenient terminal for the start of the spool winding.

In this respect it should be noted that in Patent No. 2,951,967, a series ballast 30 is used to limit the tube current and that electrically independent heaters 19, connected in parallel with the tube-ballast combination and directly across the line, serve to heat the electrode portions of the tube through the medium of the outer jacket 12. However, in the present invention, no external ballast is employed, the resistance of the windings 51 serving not only as current-limiting ballasts, but, in addition, the heat given off by these windings serves to heat the ends of the tube.

It will be noted that the jacket 46 is cut away in the region about electrodes 56 and the arc space between them in order that the uninterrupted emission of the violet rays may occur when the lamp is operative.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is more fully illustrated the electric circuit for the ultraviolet lamp assembly. Lead line L connects to one heater wire 51. Heater wire or conductor 51 is in series with an electrode 56 and a contact of push button switch 60. Lead line L is connected to the other heater wire 51, which is in turn in series with an electrode 56 and the other side of switch 60. It will be understood that the lead lines are part of cord 37, which has a conventional plug (not shown) on an end thereof for connecting the lamp to a suitable power source.

In operation, the ultraviolet lamp assembly is positioned as shown in FIGURE 3. The cord and plug thereon are connected to a source of power. Push button switch or starter button 60 is temporarily closed,

the filaments 56 are quickly heated sufficiently to permit electronic emission therebetween following release of the starter button and as an arc is struck through the rarified medium. The current going through the arm and heater coils, in series, will raise the temperature of the electrode portions of the tube, and due to the thermal conductivity of the jacket 46, after a period of 1 to 4 minutes the lamp will operate stabilized at a comparatively high pressure. The heat of the arc will add to that generated by the ballasts to prevent the small mercury content from condensing at the ends of the tubes.

The present ultraviolet lamp assembly is provided with a novel ultraviolet lamp having pin connections on the ends thereof for quickly and detachably connecting the ultraviolet lamp to bracket means in the housing of the assembly. Another feature of this invention is the provision of a combined latch-and-tilt stand for a portable ultraviolet lamp assembly, such combined latch-and-tilt stand securing the two sections of the housing together when the assembly is inoperative and maintaining the two sections in predetermined relationship with respect to one another when the assembly is in use.

A one-piece heat conducting metallic jacket is provided about the lamp for improving the operating performance of the lamp and for mechanically protecting the lamp. The jacket is provided with overhanging portions at the ends extending over the pin connectors and thereby protecting the pin connectors in use.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. An ultraviolet lamp unit comprising a housing having two sections connected to one another, an ultraviolet tube assembly carried on one section, said assembly including a mercury vapor tube having electrodes in its ends, external electric heater elements disposed endwise beyond said tube, and a sleeve-like member of high thermal conductivity associated with said heater elements and formed to conduct heat longitudinally of said tube to the electrode portions thereof, said heater elements each comprising a spool-type insulated support for the wires of said heater elements, pin connections aflixed to said insulated support, and bracket means on said one section for quickly and detachably connecting said pin connections thereto for supporting said tube on said one section.

2. An ultraviolet lamp unit as in claim 1 including a combined tilt stand and latch means for securing the sections of the housing together when it is desired to store or carry the lamp unit and for positioning one section at a predetermined angle with respect to the other when the housing sections are open for use.

3. An ultraviolet lamp unit as in claim 1 wherein said tube is carried on said one section offset to one side of the longitudinal axis, said other section of the housing being pivoted on said one section and defining a storage compartment for accommodating accessories.

4. An ultraviolet lamp unit as in claim 1 wherein said bracket means include an insulated member having a recess therein, and electrical contact means protectively housed in said recess, said pin connections on said tube being adapted to detachably engage said contact means, said sleeve-like member having overhanging projections on the ends thereof for enclosing the tops of the recesses and thereby protecting the pin connections.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1942 Pieper 240-114 X 9/1960 Naxon 315-46 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent N00 3,265,882 August 9, 1966 Irving Naxon ears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that error app should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent corrected below.

Column 2, line 15, for "conected" read connected column 3, line 27, for "arm" read arc o Signed and sealed this 22nd day of August 19670 (SEAL) Atbest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN ULTRAVIOLET LAMP UNIT COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING TWO SECTIONS CONNECTED TO ONE ANOTHER, AN ULTRAVIOLET TUBE ASSEMBLY CARRIED ON ONE SECTION, SAID ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A MERCURY VAPOR TUBE HAVING ELECTRODES IN ITS ENDS, EXTERNAL ELECTRIC HEATER ELEMENTS DISPOSED ENDWISE BEYOND SAID TUBE, AND A SLEEVE-LIKE MEMBER OF HIGH THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID HEATER ELEMENT AND FORMED TO CONDUCT HEAT LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID TUBE TO THE ELECTRODE PORTIONS THEREOF, SAID HEATER ELEMENTS EACH COMPRISING A SPOOL-TYPE INSULATED SUPPORT FOR THE WIRES OF SAID HEATER ELEMENTS, PIN CONNECTIONS AFFIXED TO SAID INSULATED SUPPORT, AND BRACKET MEANS ON SAID ONE SECTION FOR QUICKLY AND DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID PIN CONNECTIONS THERETO FOR SUPPORTING SAID TUBE ON SAID ONE SECTION. 